The Organization
The Ocean City Tabernacle is a beloved community; a refuge for believers of all denominations to fellowship on the Jersey Shore. Open to one and all, Ocean City Tabernacle has enriched the lives of Ocean City residents and its visitors for the past 145 years. Just blocks away from the boardwalk, Ocean City Tabernacle (OCT) hosts their well-known summer speaker series every year providing teaching and worship to beach-goers, locals and seasonal residents. With an annual $2 million budget, they provide a respite for vacationers and their families. They are not a church, nor a Christian school, but the shared experience of generations of families in the Tri-State area, and in fact around the world. They are "A Christ-focused ministry offering year-round opportunities for worship and spiritual growth to all.”
The Opportunity
Ocean City Tabernacle Association is in search of an Executive Director with a heart for people, a brain for operations, and a knack for fundraising. The Executive Director will manage both the operation of and fundraising for the Ocean City Tabernacle, overseeing the annual summer speaker series. The main facility features an 8,000 sq. ft. stage-equipped auditorium with seating for 1,000, an adjacent 4,000 sq. ft. narthex for dining with seating for 250, three classrooms, a kitchen and kitchenette. Their vision, in close collaboration with the Board of Trustees and the community, will lead the Tabernacle into the future, promoting the summer ministry as a lighthouse for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
THEIR STORY
Ocean City, NJ was established in 1879 as a “Christian seashore retreat” with the Ocean City Tabernacle at its social and spiritual center. Four Methodist ministers Ezra B. Lake, James Lake, S. Wesley Lake, and William Burrell, purchased Peck’s Beach in 1879 with big dreams. They envisioned a place where congregations of all denominations could fellowship and rest in community.
They soon formed the Ocean City Association, enabling them to build streets, bridges, infrastructure, railroads, and schools in their little seaside town. They ultimately built the Tabernacle itself, wrapping up their shared vision in a tidy bow, now known as Ocean City. It was their vision, their hearts for God and His people, that created this town, where thousands pilgrimage each year and remember with fond nostalgia from their childhoods. It is the Ocean City known and beloved today, because of these four men.
The Tabernacle has held Sunday summer services for the past 145 years and, more recently, has added a youth center primarily for youth groups to rent for retreats. The center offers preschool and after-school programs and hosts concerts and special community events.
WHAT THEY DO
Dating back to Ocean City’s earliest beginnings, the mission of the Ocean City Tabernacle has been to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They strive to serve, support, and inspire their community, a constituency of both visitors and locals alike. As the needs of the constituency has grown, the Tabernacle has also grown to meet them with meaningful family-focused programs and uplifting, non-denominational worship services, curated to make everyone feel welcome.
Sunday services are held at 8:30 and 10:30 am during the summer season from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. They offer periodic Sunday evening concerts as well as Vacation Bible School, Boardwalk worship, and more during the summer months.
Their recently (2022) renovated 1,000-seat auditorium with state-of-the-art audio, video, and lighting hosts premiere events from concerts to conferences. Here you’ll find performances from Christian artists like Big Daddy Weave and Sandi Patty or hear well-known Christian speakers.
The lineup for 2025 includes:
Eric Metaxas
Len Sweet
Alex Kendrick
Darryl Strawberry
…and Many Others!
During the school year, the Tabernacle offers a helping hand to busy Ocean City families through two primary programs:
Ark Pre-School boasts an interactive, Bible-based preschool program based in developmentally appropriate practices geared towards the learning styles and unique needs of very young children. They have as their goal “to create a positive impact on the lives of young children and instill a love of learning that will last a lifetime.”
The Son Club After School Program is for K-6 students, providing homework help and Bible teaching. Son Club begins after school and runs until 5:00 PM, Monday-Friday, generally following the Ocean City School District calendar for days off.
The Richard and Mary Anne Kull Youth Center is available year round to rent for retreats and other functions for youth groups or other groups. It features a meeting room and lounge which provides overnight accommodations for up to 100 people.
The Tabernacle is also a partner in many community events, including the popular weekly Farmers’ Market in the summer months, civic events like the Martin Luther King service ceremony, Veteran’s Day service, and 9/11 memorial service, and provides a premier venue for Ocean City’s First Night.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Title: Executive Director
Classification: Exempt
Reports to: Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees: Laurel Sarian, President, Gena Willard, Vice President, Jack Brooks, Treasurer, Greg Field, Secretary, Amy Holmes, Antwan McClellan, Cindy Morris, Brian Roberts
Direct Reports: Director of Administration, Children’s Ministry Coordinator, Ark Preschool Director, Director of Worship and Communication
Travel: N/A
Location: Ocean City, NJ
SUMMARY
The Executive Director manages both the operation of and fundraising for the Ocean City Tabernacle, a summer speaker ministry that was the founding of Ocean City, NJ in 1879. He or she forges a shared vision with the Board of Trustees, relying on a strong relationship with the Board, constituency, and community. He or she also has a keen understanding of how to connect with donors and promote the Tabernacle's primary mission of summer ministry as a lighthouse of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Operational Management:
Oversee daily operations
Personnel Management
Maintain and enhance the facility and grounds to ensure it serves as a welcoming and functional space for all.
Management of non-profit budget
Researching and securing Sunday speaker series
Fund Raising & Financial Oversight:
Experienced fundraiser.
Lead fundraising efforts and donor engagement
Develop and manage the annual budget and long-term financial plans.
3. Strategic Leadership:
Ensure programming aligns with the Tabernacle’s mission and values
Good communicator, with an engaging personality, polished public speaking and clear written communications.
Self-starter with a good track record of working with a board and an understanding of board governance.
Community and Spiritual Engagement:
Foster relationships with the local community, Ocean City Tabernacle constituents, churches, and partner organizations
QUALIFICATIONS
Required Education & Experience
Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with a master’s degree in a relevant discipline a welcomed addition.
Candidates must possess five to seven years of management or leadership in a for profit or nonprofit setting. Nonprofit leadership is preferred.
Character
Candidate must be a believer in Jesus Christ and able to affirm without reservation the OCT STATEMENT of FAITH (*See Below)
Humility- seeks the position from a genuine sense of call, not a desire to be the “star” of the show.
Others-centered and a servant leader
Self-starter
Core Competencies
Relational- strong “EQ” that enables them to connect easily with a wide variety of people.
Nonprofit Fundraising
Operations and Business Administration
Communication and marketing
Chemistry with Culture
Community-oriented with a desire to be engaged in serving the surrounding community of Ocean City, NJ.
Willing to submit to and respond well to accountability to the Board of Trustees.
Has a strong connection to the mission of OCT, either from personal experience, prior service or life calling. Able to discern the unique nature of the Tabernacle which is not a church, but shares the gospel, is not a school but disciples children, is not a club but cares for all who attend.
COMPENSATION PACKAGE
Salary: $100-$120k based on experience.
Vacation: Ten (10) vacation days plus holidays (negotiable and flexible).
Benefits: To be discussed during personal interview.
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
Opportunities
The staff at OCT is highly engaged in their work, and have come together with an “all hands on deck” collaborative approach that makes working at the Tabernacle a “team sport.” Staff members support one another in a collaborative fashion, seeking one another’s opinions and participation.
The Tabernacle is situated on highly valued real estate near the Beach on the Strand, making it highly strategic in reaching visitors and community members. Further, the outstanding upgrade to the facilities in 2022 makes the Tabernacle a dynamic and desirable location for attracting the constituency to greater participation in the summer speaker series and year-round programming.
The OCT is historically highly admired in the local community. They have a strong working relationship with the people, government and school leadership within the community. This reservoir of good will provides for a basis to continually improve the work of the Tabernacle that has so uniquely blessed the town for 145 years.
Challenges
For many decades, families came to Ocean City for the summer and perhaps a family member worked in Philadelphia or New York during the week and joined the families for the weekend. That has changed. Now families typically come for a couple weeks. Donations in recent years have not been sufficient, and the endowment trust has made up the shortfall.
The Board of the Ocean City Tabernacle Association as well as the staff has had some turnover in recent years. As the surrounding community has changed so has the volunteer and employee pool for the mission. The next ED will work to stabilize the organization around its timeless mission, re-energize the core ministry of the summer speaker series, and expand the fundraising base among the thousands of loyal attendees who have experienced the Tabernacle in the past.
LIVING IN OCEAN CITY, NEW JERSEY
Ocean City, New Jersey, is a vibrant coastal community renowned for its family-friendly atmosphere, pristine beaches, and lively boardwalk. Eight miles of white sand beaches and a 2.5-mile boardwalk are filled with amusements, shops, and eateries, making it a hub for year-round recreation and relaxation. The town boasts a strong sense of community, including a bustling downtown, lively community centers with events and classes, parks, a skate park, tennis courts, and more. Outdoor activities abound, including fishing, boating, kayaking, and biking, while cultural venues like the Music Pier and Historical Museum are perfect indoor activities.
Ocean City is especially appealing for families, thanks to its highly rated public schools—Ocean City School District receives an overall grade of A, with strong academics and excellent teachers. It’s a safe, clean, and welcoming community with a dense suburban feel, perfect for young children.
While the cost of living is about 49% higher than the national average, largely due to housing costs, the surrounding areas can be more cost-effective. Within Ocean City itself, the median home value is around a million dollars. The truth is the Jersey Shore islands have become more desirable and therefore more expensive. More affordable housing options for families are located in nearby communities, like Egg Harbor Township or Somers Point.
Ocean City offers a unique blend of small-town charm, coastal beauty, and endless recreational options, making it a sought-after destination for those seeking a vibrant, family-oriented lifestyle by the sea.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
Ocean City Tabernacle Statement of Faith
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word of God.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity and humanity of Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, in His present rule as Head of the Church and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful men regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.
We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit, by who’s indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, they that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto the barrenness of damnation.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, with equality across racial, gender, and class differences.